The scope defined by the Steering Committee lists :
4. Policy recommendations for water management and food security
As in previous reports, the HLPE will seek to elaborate policy recommendations, taking into account three important elements.
As a resident of Mumbai which is expected to have groundwater whether sweet or brackish at reasonably small depths - I see around me ever increasing obstructions created by the actions of the local body through its "Infrastructure development" projects & by builders of real estate who have no hesistation in filling up sea as well as mangrove lands for converting to concrete masses. Similar situation exists in other coastal towns as well as hinterland cities like Bangalore in India
1. While Infra development is a must, we have no right to close the earth from soaking from the abundant rains that batter Mumbai every monsoon. The water is now wasted into the Sea after causing severe floods to the city and suburbs. This can be prevented if alongside the Roads and Bridges , as the construction goes on , deep (6-9 m x 200mm dia) shafts reaching the subsoil are provided at say 10 m intervals and the rain water / storm water is funneled into the shafts. Needless to mention , the water passage has to be kept without any clogging and tampering while personal security is ensured to prevent accidental fall into the shafts. This can be easily implemented because for private buildings the town municipalities are insisting on Water harvesting. It becomes important the practice begins at home in the very projects of the local Authority.
2. The builders / real estate developers trying to use Mangrove / Sea shores must be reined in by a rule that these townships / colonies can be only on stilts with deep pilefoundations for supporting the beams that will form the base of the buildings. All roads leading to these buildings / towns must also be on Piledriven columns so that the earth remains exposed under and around the buildings. With rainwater harvesting simplified through guided stormwater drains to carry water into the soil , the rain water will return to the mother Earth. As there would be cost implications , the builders could be compensated through additional permission of Floor Space Index as notified by the Authority.
Benefits : Several million litres of water will go into the earth in Mumbai alone while the people will have flood free roads and green surroundings. Green surroundings will to a large extent help controlling the emissions escaping into the atmosphere.
Thus Policy making for development can help in Water security.
AV Anantharaman